Pedroia Meets With Boy Injured Last Year By Line Drive
BOSTON (CBS) - A young boy returned to Fenway Park Wednesday night, nearly a year after he was badly injured by a Dustin Pedroia line drive during batting practice.
Young Ethan Chase is a Red Sox fan who lives in Virginia. But every summer, he visits his grandparents in Vermont -- and a trip to Fenway Park is a sure bet.
Last summer, his visit to Fenway ended with a lot of blood -- and yet some wonderful memories.
Wednesday night, however, it was all good.
But, as the 12-year-old wore his blue Dustin Pedroia jersey out onto the field, he admitted to mixed feelings as he watched his favorite player take batting practice.
WBZ-TV's Ken MacLeod reports.
"I'm a bit nervous," Ethan said with a smile, "but excited."
Ethan was touring Fenway with his grandfather last July as the Sox were taking pregame batting practice, when Pedroia hit a rocket into the Monster seats. Ethan went to catch it -- but missed -- and the ball broke his nose in four places.
"Someone had to give me their T-shirt to stop the bleeding," he recalled.
It would later need surgery.
But before the ambulance took Ethan away, Pedroia scrambled over with an autographed bat, glove and ball.
"In one way it was tremendous," said grandfather Phil Goldman. "But in another way it was terrifying."
Ethan's Dad says the youngster has talked about the incident ever since.
"All of his friends have heard the story at least 20 times," laughed Steve Chase. "He loves it."
So. when the Sox invited his family back as guests for Wednesday night's game, Ethan was thrilled. But, he never thought Pedroia would recognize him -- before stopping to shake hands and compare slightly crooked noses.
"So everthing is alright?" inquired the Sox second baseman. "You having fun? Maybe you can stay for the whole game this time," laughed Pedroia.
"He wanted to know if I was feeling better," a star-struck Ethan said moments later. "And I told him "Yeah, better than ever -- especially when I get to see you.' It was pretty awesome."
Pedroia signed more stuff for Ethan and his older brother, Noah -- prompting both to look at the whole 'broken nose' thing in a different sort of way.
"That day last summer might have been the best day of his life," Noah says, "even though he got hit."
"I never thought a baseball player would be that generous and caring," adds Ethan. "He's a really nice guy."
And from now on, whenever Ethan sees that green monster he'll think of the long ball he missed -- and the special moments he'll hold onto forever.
Nonetheless, Ethan declined an offer to sit in the monster seats Wednesday night, opting instead for the right field grandstand.
